C.J. Gish
An Alachua County judge sentenced Arealeus K. Morris to 60 years in prison as a reoffender after a jury found him guilty of a Gainesville man’s death in 2020.
On May 25, 2020, Morris, 41, beat and robbed John Katon, 66, in the Pine Ridge Neighborhood in northwest Gainesville. Morris had been released from prison after 15 years in April 2020, less than two months before the assault.
The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) found Katon around 11:17 p.m., according to a press release from the event. Neighbors came forward and pointed GPD in the direction of Morris. The next morning, officers took him into custody.
Morris later admitted to the confrontations and trying to take drugs from the man while unconscious.
After a three-day trial, the jury found Morris guilty of manslaughter, robbery with a firearm and aggravated battery on a person over 65.
This is very sad. I do not think we should imprison everyone for life.. 1) Because it could be unjust to those who have the potential to change their ways (2) It’s very expensive for the taxpayers. So, what programs do we have in prison? Putting more money on work programs.. therapy.. education? When released, do we make sure they have a way to find productive and legal means to live? Do we make sure our prison is free of drugs? Why not drug test people before release? And do random drug testing like we do in the military? And we find the source of the drugs that keeps the prisoners’ minds imprisoned. Maybe they need to clean house..